The biggest issue, however, was Henderson’s motion to withdraw his no-contest plea to a charge of second-degree murder in the death of James Vincent Brookins on April 28, 2010. Co-defendants Rodrick D’Anthony Williams and Sharina Jadne Parker are still waiting to be tried.

Henderson, who has gone back and forth in his decision to represent himself, argued without counsel Friday that he was confused and upset when he entered an open plea to the court on June 28.

While consistently turning down offers from the state, Henderson instead decided for an open plea that would result in a sentence of life in prison because he is designated as a prison releasee reoffender.

“I was nervous,” Henderson said. “There’s a lot of things that were on my mind.”

Henderson said that he thought he had to enter the plea because it was the only way he could continue to appeal a motion to suppress, which was denied by Traynor. By accepting the state’s most recent offer of 30 to 40 years in prison, Henderson would have given up his right to appeal the decision to deny the motion.

But the problem with the plea was that he still might not have the right to appeal.

“If I didn’t think I could preserve that (right to appeal), I would have gone on to trial,” Henderson said.

Henderson’s belief is that the motion is dispositive — in other words, one that, if adopted, would end the case.

But the state does not agree on that stance, saying that even without Henderson’s statements to law enforcement it still had enough evidence to go forward with the case. Traynor was not asked to make a judgment on the dispositive issue prior to Henderson entering the plea.

It has now become clear to Henderson that an open plea to second-degree murder was probably not in his best interest. Before Traynor, he argued that he should now be allowed to withdraw the plea.

However, Assistant State Attorney Jason Lewis said that is not enough reason to withdraw the plea. Lewis argued that Henderson should have known what he was agreeing to.

Under Lewis’ questioning, Henderson said he received poor representation from court-appointed attorney Steven Laurence and that he should have been representing himself.

However, Henderson also told the court that he thought he was entering a plea to principal to murder and not second-degree murder. Lewis asked him if principal to murder was the charge he remembered hearing announced at the last court appearance.

“Vaguely. That’s what I thought I heard,” Henderson said.

Lewis also addressed the issue of counsel. He questioned Laurence about the advice he gave Henderson about the plea.

“I told him that if he was going to do that, I was going to withdraw as counsel,” Laurence said. “I told him, ‘If you do this, the only sentence they can give you is life.’”

Laurence said Henderson is an intelligent man who should be able to understand what is happening.

When Henderson questioned Laurence, he got the same answer.

“I explained that by pleaing to the court, you gave up your right to appeal,” Laurence said. “Harry, I don’t know what you were thinking. That’s why I told you not to do it.

“I still don’t know why you did it.”

Traynor did not immediately make a ruling on the motion to withdraw. He said he would go back and listen to the audio recording of the June 28 hearing before making his decision.

Should Traynor agree to let Henderson withdraw his plea, the trial will likely be in December. He had Lewis and Laurence check their calendars Friday, and they agreed on the December trial period in St. Johns County.

However, Laurence’s participation is in question. Henderson also has requested different counsel. Or he could choose to represent himself at trial.